Historic Preservation Commission

~ LAFAYETTE ~ MINUTES OF THE LAFAYETTE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION January 29, 2024 7:00 pm Council Chambers, City Hall Attendance Commission Members: Ann Amato, John Burns, Kevin Klinker, Sean Lutes, Stephanie Rogers, Alec Williams Absent: Julie Ginn, Shawna Mccully Staff in Attendance: Michelle Conwell, Economic Development; John Collier, Economic Development; Dann Keiser, Historic Preservation Officer Call to Order Noting a quorum, President Sean Lutes called the meeting of the Lafayette Historic Preservation Commission to order at 7:00 pm. Election of Officers John Collier announced that Amy Paget resigned from the Commission due to personal commitments. Her resignation resulted in an opening for Secretary for 2024. Alec Williams was nominated as Secretary. Kevin Klinker made a motion to nominate and approve the following slate of officers for 2024: President: Sean Lutes Vice President: John Burns Secretary: Alec Williams Ann Amato seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Sean Lutes proposed the following committee assignments: COA: John Burns, Sean Lutes, Alec Williams District: Shawna Mccully, Stephanie Rogers, Vacancy PR & Education: Ann Amato, Kevin Klinker, Vacancy Julie Ginn will decide which committee she would like to serve on. Kevin Klinker made the motion. Alec Williams seconded and the motion passed unanimously. Approval of the Minutes John Burns moved to recommend approval of the October 23, 2023 (no November or December meetings) meeting minutes. Ann Amato seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. New Business Public Relations and Education Committee: No report  District Committee: No report COA Committee: 317 s. 6th St. John Collier presented this revised submittal of a COA that was tabled in March of 2023. This COA application is being submitted by contractor, Timothy Turner on behalf of the current owners, Z & S Brothers, who inherited the problem from the previous property owner who removed and replaced non-original vinyl windows that filled the original window size opening with smaller, replacement vinyl windows with wood-infill surrounds to fill the voids. The previous owner did the work without a COA. A violation letter was sent to the previous owner who submitted a COA requesting approval of the smaller replacement windows that were installed without approval. When the COA Committee recommended denial of that COA from March of 2023, the previous property owner tabled the COA so that the COA could be revised. Prior to submitting the revised COA, the previous property owner sold the property. Z and S Brothers were made aware of the violation and have submitted this COA application to remedy the situation. The new owner intends to remove the 2023 replacement vinyl windows and the wood-infill surrounds on the 5 upper-story windows that were affected and replace them with new vinyl windows that will be the size of the original replacement vinyl windows (prior to 2023). The new property owner, although unhappy with the bad situation he inherited, is striving to correct the violation in a willing, professional, and courteous manner through the submission of this COA application. Dann Keiser agreed that this is an acceptable solution given that the previous windows were not original. Stephanie Rogers made a motion to recommend approval of the application, Kevin Klinker seconded. The motion passed unanimously. 511 Ferry St. John Collier presented this application on behalf of owner, Patrick Finnegan for the replacement of glass panes only (existing window frames to remain). This is a follow-up COA to a COA approved in June of 2023 for new windows on the 2nd floor of 511 Ferry St. to accommodate new residential apartments. The property owner would like to replace the center panes of glass from frosted to clear on the existing 2nd story Ferry St.-facing windows (existing window frames will remain) and one new 2nd story window on the east- and the west-facing walls of the building. Dann Keiser mentioned that the original windows were probably clear glass so he was comfortable with the proposed change. Alec Williams made a motion to recommend approval of the application, John Burns seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Street Signs at 5 th & Columbia Streets John Collier presented this application on behalf of the City of Lafayette to install illuminated street signs at 5th and Columbia Streets in lieu of the previous metal signs with reflective lettering. This is a new best-practice for street sign design in urban areas and the mayor and city engineer would like this to be the new standard for street signs in urban areas within the city including the proposed signs on mast arms in the next and future downtown streetscape projects as well as the project this spring to convert 3rd and 4th St. from 1-way to 2-way traffic. Although the COA Committee recommended approval, Dann Keiser expressed concern that this is counter to the guidelines for signs in local historic districts which do not allow internally illuminated signs. He also expressed concern about the size of the signs. John Collier responded that he felt this wouldn't cause confusion since this is wayfinding signage and not business signage. He also noted that the proposed sizes of the signs 18" tall by 51" wide are not radically larger than the previous metal signs. To address the size concerns, the Commission asked that size comparisons be done and if size differences are minor, that staff could approve the COA as submitted. Stephanie Rogers made a motion to recommend approval of the application, with the condition mentioned above and Ann Amato seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Miscellaneous Items: None Staff Report: John Collier presented the 2023 Annual Report. Public Comment No public comments were received. Adjournment There being no further business to bring before the Commission, Kevin Klinker moved to adjourn the meeting. John Burns seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously, and the meeting of the Historic Preservation Commission was adjourned at 7:28 pm. Respectfully submitted Mic~Recordin~~ecretary ,. ~,Secretary Historic Preservation Commission